ARLINGTON, VA — An independent inspection of the Four Mile Run bridge connecting South Arlington Ridge Road with Mount Vernon Avenue in Alexandria requires closing the west sidewalk to pedestrians, due to deterioration of beams below. Vehicle traffic will not be affected by the restriction, which takes effect immediately.

The same issue exists with a beam beneath the Arlington Ridge Road bridge’s western sidewalk.

Working with the City of Alexandria, Arlington traffic crews will use signage and barricades to direct pedestrians and bus riders to the bridge’s east sidewalk. A Metrobus stop (10A, 10E, 23A, 23B routes) and entry to Four Mile Run Park and the Four Mile Run Trail are just before the north end of the bridge on the east side at South Glebe Road. Another Metrobus stop sits at the northwest corner of Arlington Ridge and Glebe (10A, 10E routes).

As with the Glebe Road bridge, the restriction at the Arlington Ridge Road bridge will remain in place indefinitely as engineers monitor conditions and look at eventual replacement options.

The bridge at Glebe Road is now being inspected formally by third-party engineers every six months. Its sister bridge at Arlington Ridge Road is slated for another third-party inspection within a year in addition to regular County examinations.

Per industry standard, Arlington bridges are formally inspected by third party engineers every two years, with regular County safety checks at other times.

]]>Top 10 Stories of 2018https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/top-10-stories-2018/
Mon, 07 Jan 2019 17:44:45 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=20059From the Stanley Cup to Amazon, it was another good year in Arlington County.

2018 also ushered in new ways we communicated with Arlington, whether here in our new-look Newsroom, or on Arlington TV’s YouTube channel. And you welcomed that shift in storytelling, leading to unprecedented readership last year. So before we fully welcome 2019, we want to share the 10 most popular stories of 2018:

10. Get to Know 5 Women Who Keep Arlington Safe

They fight fires and respond to medical emergencies. They proactively patrol your neighborhoods. They ensure the proper intake and release of inmates at the County jail. They answer 9-1-1 calls. Women in Arlington County’s public safety agencies and departments take on a diverse array of roles, and in May, we introduced you to five of them, from a Corporal in the County Police Department to a Firefighter to a Dispatcher in Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management.

The yarn bomb, a type of graffiti or street art of knitted or crocheted yarn, was installed by Stitch 4-Stage IV, a group that uses these displays to help raise awareness of Metastatic (Stage IV) Breast Cancer. Originally the exhibit was scheduled to remain on display until April 30, but the public response was so overwhelming, the Department of Parks and Recreation approved an extension into May.

The vibrant nightlife scene in Clarendon only got bigger in 2018. And with that growth came the need for safer travel there and back. The Police Department stepped in and, working with Lyft and Uber, along with Red Top Cab, designated weekend pick-up and drop-off locations. In addition to overall safety, the initiative aims to curb illegal practices, such as double parking and stopping in travel lanes, bus stops, bike lanes and crosswalks, to load and unload passengers.

7. Say Goodbye to this Courthouse “Slip Lane”

Remember that “slip lane” — the narrow travel lane for vehicles — connecting eastbound Clarendon Boulevard to 15th Street North? In 2018, it was replaced by an expanded pedestrian plaza with new landscaping, street furniture, and bike racks, and better sidewalks and ramps for persons with limited mobility. It was yet another example of the County working to make Arlington’s streets safer and friendlier for pedestrians.

A bit more than a week after winning the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup, the Capitals started their summer celebration with the Arlington County Police Department. It was an opportunity for police personnel to visit with Capitals owner Ted Leonsis and team captain Alex Ovechkin — and, of course, to get their photo with the Cup. It was also a chance for Leonsis to thank the men and women of Arlington’s public safety departments — joining ACPD was the Sheriff’s Office,Fire Department and Emergency Communications Center.

“We can’t thank you enough,” Leonsis said. “We wanted to make sure that we had the opportunity to bring the Cup here, get some pictures and share in the joy.”

And despite some folktales about dragonflies — previously, it had been believed they descended from dragons, would sew snakes together and could measure human souls — all those dragonflies were, in fact, helpful, “catching and eating many insect pests, with damselflies in particular eating mosquitoes,” explained Abugattas.

AWLA’s Animal Control team determined both turkeys appeared healthy and uninjured, and that it was best to be allowed to continue on their way.

3. Changes Coming to Challenging Clarendon Circle

One of Arlington’s most highly traveled and complex intersections started to receive a makeover in 2018. Later this year, when construction is expected to be completed, the intersection of Wilson, Clarendon and Washington boulevards ― known as Clarendon Circle — will be a safer and more accessible area for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

Improvements to this intersection were identified in the Clarendon Sector Plan, which was adopted by the County Board in 2006. When this project is complete, residents, businesses and visitors can expect a tighter intersection with shorter pedestrian crossings, wider sidewalks and improved alignment of Washington and Wilson boulevards. Most notably, North Irving Street (next to Silver Diner) will be closed at the intersection, and green streets elements will be added. Closing this portion of Irving Street, which has low traffic volumes, will help make traffic operations simpler by reducing the number of streets at the intersection.

2. See Arlington and DC from 31 Floors Up

2018 saw the opening of The Observation Deck at CEB Tower in Rosslyn, and with it, stunning views of Arlington County from 31 stories in the sky. The observation deck is part of a larger plan to bring new energy to Rosslyn. Known as the Rosslyn Sector Plan and adopted in 2015, it calls for transformational improvements over the next 25 years to the area’s skyline, streetscapes, transportation network, parks and residential and commercial development patterns.

It’s not just views you get from the Observation Deck at CEB Tower. There’s little-known history, too — about the CIA, I-66, the Watergate and more, all of which are visible from the deck. And there’s a café and bar, offering snacks and drinks while you enjoy the 12,000-square-foot space. Oh, and it’s free for Arlington residents.

The Arlington County Board today approved a contract to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility along a segment of Wilson Boulevard, bordering the Ashton Heights and Ballston-Virginia Square neighborhoods.

“Wilson Boulevard is one of Arlington’s most heavily used east-west arteries,” Arlington CountyBoard Chair Katie Cristol said. “Making it safer and more accessible for pedestrians furthers our vision of Arlington as a walkable community for all residents.”

The Board voted unanimously, in adopting the Consent Agenda, to approve a $1 million contract, including contingency, with Sagres Construction Corp. for Phase 3A of the Wilson Boulevard Streetscape Improvements Project, which is improving one of the County’s most heavily traveled east-west arterial streets.

Project began in 2009

The County has completed two segments since the project began in 2009, improving pedestrian safety along a 1,600-foot stretch from N. Quincy Street to N. Monroe Street. The contract approved today by the Board will improve an additional 900 feet of Wilson Boulevard between N. Monroe Street and N. Kenmore Street. The project is being phased to limit the disruption caused by construction.

Improvements will include realigning the street, widening sidewalks, installing new streetlights and constructing curb extensions. An ADA-compliant crossing will be installed at the N. Kenmore Street intersection, along with a rapid flashing beacon to increase the visibility of the new crossing. Construction is expected to start in spring 2019, with completion anticipated in summer 2020.

Remaking Wilson Boulevard

Improvements to Wilson Boulevard were identified in the Virginia Square Sector Plan, adopted by the County Board in 2002. The Sector Plan recommended improving the street’s character and encouraging a more walkable community with safer, wider sidewalks that meet the latest design guidelines, and by installing sidewalk nubs to reduce crosswalk distances.

The Wilson Boulevard project is fulfilling the Sector Plan recommendations, which also include making the travel lanes more consistent by aligning the edges of the street curb. The project’s final phase, which will improve the section between N. Kenmore Street and 10th Street N. and the 10th Street/N. Ivy Street intersection, is currently in the early design phase. It is being coordinated with a utility under-grounding project that will bury utility lines in this area. The final phase of the streetscape improvements will begin construction after completion of the utility under-grounding project.

To read the staff report, visit the County website. Scroll to Item No. 14 on the agenda for the Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 Regular County Board Meeting.

]]>December 2018 County Board Meeting Agenda Highlightshttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/december-2018-county-board-meeting-agenda-highlights/
Sat, 08 Dec 2018 13:01:36 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=19830The Arlington County Board will say farewell to departing Board Member John Vihstadt, swear-in newly elected Board Member Matt de Ferranti, and consider dozens of items at its December 2018 meeting.

The Regular Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 15, followed by the Recessed Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 18. The County Board meeting is held on the third floor at the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., and is open to the public. Visit the County website for information on speaking at a Regular County Board Meeting.

Watch it Live

All County Board meetings are live-streamed on the County website, and broadcast live on the County’s cable channel, ATV, with live captioning. You can watch the Board Meetings on Comcast 25 & 1085 (HD), and Verizon FiOS 39 & 40, or live-streamed on YouTube. Videos of Board meetings are archived on the County website (with captions and reports) and on YouTube.

Saturday, Dec. 15 – County Board Regular Meeting

(Note: The meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. with public comment. Some reports will be posted closer to the meeting date.) View the agenda and read the staff reports. Highlights include:

Contract to improve Wilson Blvd: The Board will consider approving a $1 million contract with Sagres Construction Corp. to continue a project that is making Wilson Boulevard, a main east-west artery, safer for pedestrians. To read the staff report on this item, visit the County website. Scroll to Item No. 14 on the agenda.

The Board invites the public to join it at 11 a.m. (corrected from 1 p.m.) in the Board Room to thank Board Member John Vihstadt, first elected to the County Board in April 2014, for his service. A reception will follow in the atrium outside the Board Room.

2019 General Assembly Legislative Package: The Board will consider adopted the proposed 2019 General Assembly legislative package. The legislative package includes the County’s priorities for the legislative session, developed through the summer and fall in consultation with commissions, stakeholders, members of the public and the County’s legislative delegation. The public hearing on this item has been closed, and the matter is before the Board. To read the staff report, visit the County website. Scroll to Item No. 24 on the agenda.

Tuesday, Dec. 18 – County Board Recessed Meeting

5 p.m. – The Board will swear-in Member-elect Matt de Ferranti in a public celebration beginning at 5 p.m. The formal swearing-in will be followed by a reception in the atrium outside the Board Room, Room 307 in the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, 2100 Clarendon Blvd. Mr. de Ferranti was elected to a four-year term on the County Board on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. The public is invited, and no RSVP is necessary.

No sooner than 6:30 p.m. – The Board will hold public hearings on, and consider, any items pulled from Saturday’s Consent Agenda.

]]>Arlington Readies for a Winter of Possibilitieshttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/arlington-winter-snow-expanded-tools/
Thu, 06 Dec 2018 18:00:03 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=19652A snowy winter ahead would hardly be surprising after the super-soaked spring-summer-fall of 2018. While long-range forecasts vary, Arlington again hopes for the best — something like last winter’s lone one-day blast — while preparing for the worst.

New This Year

Should snow and ice make repeat appearances, Arlington will be ready to fight back with several potent tools.

New this winter is the 6,000-ton capacity interim road salt storage structure at 25th Street North and Old Dominion Drive. The modern, green-skinned “hangar” now houses previous inventory levels from the nearby old salt tank that dates to the 1920s, and the salt that had been stored on the property beneath a large industrial tarp. The new facility allows the County to continue operating an efficient hub for road treatment in north Arlington, complemented by salt storage and loading at the Trades Center facility in south Arlington.

Salt management technology continues to be a key to Arlington storm preparation. New gauging equipment is being piloted on some County trucks to better monitor brine and salt application rates based on road conditions and in the name of environmental sustainability.

Additional anti-icing equipment, including five new large-capacity brine tanks, were added in the off-season for treating bridges, sidewalks and narrow streets. Residents of such streets and cul-de-sacs will receive a mailing with tips to help the County maximize snow fighting in those neighborhoods, which will benefit from new computer-generated routing.

Also new this season will be a pilot of a public-facing online map showing near-real time plow activity across the County. Arlington is responsible for 1,059 miles of roadway, including newly acquired parts of Fairfax Drive and 10th Street North previously controlled and maintained by the state.

And the County is prepared to haul specialized tractors to clear its growing network of protected bike lanes, now at 3.58 miles.

Before, During and After a Storm

Arlington snow operations involve several agencies across the County as well as external partners, representing several hundred employees who work around-the-clock to keep core infrastructure and services running. Once a forecast calls for winter weather — snow, ice or freezing rain — Arlington crews follow the snow removal process and phases.

The County’s snow-fighting inventory includes 46 trucks equipped with a salt spreader and plow blade. Additional contractor equipment is available depending on the severity of the storm.

The County will continue to clear 10 miles of multi-use trails this winter season with specialized equipment. Trail and lane conditions are reported frequently by BikeArlington on social media. Arlington maintains a commitment to supporting a range of transportation options year-round.

How to Help

Residents play a vital role in dealing with winter’s fallout. The County’s Snow Removal Ordinance requires all Arlington property owners to clear snow and ice from public sidewalks adjacent to their property within 24 hours after the end of the storm for snowfalls of less than 6 inches, or 36 hours for those greater than 6 inches.

There are many other ways to assist in snow-clearing efforts:

Coordinate with neighbors to park cars on one side of the street, where feasible, or avoid on-street parking so snowplow operators can efficiently clear a wider span of roadway

Don’t park “head in” on cul-de-sacs so plows have more room to maneuver

The project added a 10-foot-wide paved trail along the west side of Washington Boulevard in the Penrose neighborhood. The new trail section links with the project’s first phase, built in 2009 between Arlington Boulevard and South Walter Reed Drive, and provides a new north-south connection between the Arlington Boulevard Trail and Columbia Pike. The total length of the trail, for both phases, is approximately 4,000 feet, or 0.75 miles.

“Completion of the Washington Boulevard Trail provides a new opportunity for residents to safely and comfortably travel by bicycle, expands access to Towers Park, and continues our efforts to build a transportation system that provides a wealth of environmentally sustainable travel options,” said Arlington County Board Member Erik Gutshall.

The new trail is a facility for transportation and recreation, and it helps provide more convenient access to Towers Park for community neighbors. It was constructed by Arlington County on land owned and managed by local agencies, the Virginia Department of Transportation and the U.S. Navy.

Construction for the trail’s second phase began in January 2018 and was completed in 11 months. The total cost for design and construction was approximately $3 million. The project was funded by Arlington County and the Virginia Department of Transportation.

County updating bike plan

The Washington Boulevard Trail is part of Arlington’s developing bikeway network that will link existing and planned trails on the north, south and east sides of the County.

Plans for the bikeway network are being updated as part of the County’s revision of the Bicycle Element in its Master Transportation Plan. The update is looking at ways to further improve mobility, safety, comfort and convenience for cyclists and to expand the attractiveness of cycling for getting around Arlington.

]]>Arlington County Issues Bridge Restrictions on West Glebe Roadhttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/arlington-county-issues-bridge-restrictions-on-west-glebe-road/
Sat, 10 Nov 2018 00:07:10 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=19471ARLINGTON, VA – A routine inspection of the bridge on West Glebe Road at South Four Mile Run has uncovered deterioration, which will require a vehicle weight restriction of 5-tons, and closure of the sidewalks in both directions. Because safety is the priority, the restrictions are effective immediately.

The County performs maintenance inspections of its bridges every two years; the last routine inspection was in November 2017. A recent interim check on the 62-year-old bridge prompted a more detailed inspection that showed accelerated deterioration in the structural beams, particularly underneath the sidewalks.

A weight limit restriction of vehicles that weigh more than five tons will primarily affect larger heavy vehicles such as buses and dump trucks. Because of lower southbound vehicular volume, the County is exploring options to restore pedestrian access by possibly converting a southbound lane to a pedestrian path.

The restrictions will stay in place until further notice. The County will continue to monitor the bridge on a routine basis to ensure there is no further deterioration in its condition.

]]>Changes Coming to Challenging Clarendon Circlehttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/changes-coming-to-challenging-clarendon-circle/
Mon, 05 Nov 2018 18:51:05 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=19263One of Arlington’s most highly traveled and complex intersections is getting a makeover. The end result? A safer and more accessible area for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

Work began last month on the intersection of Wilson, Clarendon and Washington boulevards ― known as Clarendon Circle ― a popular area that’s home to some of Arlington’s best-known businesses.

Improvements to this intersection were identified in the Clarendon Sector Plan, which was adopted by the County Board in 2006. When this project is complete, residents, businesses and visitors can expect a tighter intersection with shorter pedestrian crossings, wider sidewalks and improved alignment of Washington and Wilson boulevards.

“This project will bring a huge improvement to the experience of those walking or biking in the area, and make it easier for drivers to understand how vehicles should move through this large intersection,” said Gabriela Vega, the County’s project manager.

Most notably, North Irving Street (next to Silver Diner) will be closed at the intersection, and green streets elements will be added. Closing this portion of Irving Street, which has low traffic volumes, will help make traffic operations simpler by reducing the number of streets at the intersection.

In addition, there will be upgraded traffic signals, new Carlyle streetlights, wider center medians at all crossings, curb extensions at the Liberty Tavern corner, new bike lanes and new street trees.

Residents and visitors should expect travel lane and sidewalk closures throughout construction, but no full road closures are planned. The first phase of construction will involve concrete work along eastbound Washington Boulevard, west of Wilson Boulevard and Fairfax Drive.

The 52,800-ft vehicle repair shop services nearly 1,300 County vehicles, from lawnmowers to snowplows, fire trucks to police cruisers, and everything in between.

“Our fleet is like the bar scene in Star Wars,” said Chris Allison, Arlington County Equipment Bureau Chief. “We’ve got all kinds of characters.”

But maybe the most important responsibility of the Equipment Division is the safety and maintenance of the Arlington Public Schools Bus Fleet.

Working around the clock, County mechanics provide constant upkeep of APS’ 182 school buses, performing preventive maintenance, which is critical to avoiding breakdowns. The most common repair is regenerating the engine, followed by brake jobs, both the result of the short, stop-and-go routes driven by the buses throughout the County.

APS operates school buses from three major manufactures — Blue Bird Corporation, Thomas Built Buses and IC Bus — which means each mechanic has to be three-times the bus expert.

“The nature of repairs has become more complex and technical,” explains Allison. “A mechanic now is almost like a technician, due to the complex computers and electronics within vehicles.”

And that’s especially true for the school bus fleet — depending on the brand, a bus can have seven to eight separate computers under the hood, all with their own software and operating manual.

Every day, the Equipment Bureau works on 10-15 buses.

“We don’t get behind on school buses,” said Allison. The Virginia Department of Education mandates that buses “be inspected and maintained … at least once every 45 school days.”

And while students may get a break during the summer, the same cannot be said for school bus maintenance. Arlington’s camps and summer schools keep 60-70 percent of the fleet on the roads. During the winter, the work starts even earlier. Staff that work on school buses arrive two hours ahead of schedule when the temperatures start to dip in Arlington, to ensure the fleet is operating well.

“Severe temperature changes cause issues,” explains Raja Waseem, an “electrical guru” of a mechanic who has been with the County for 12 years. “As oil gets thicker in cold weather, buses can ‘freeze up.’ It can take two or three jump-starts for a bus the Monday after school has been closed over a cold weekend.”

Free school bus transportation is provided to and from school for students living beyond a one-mile walking distance from elementary schools and a 1.5-miles walking distance from middle and high schools. For more information about school bus routes and bus stops, visit the Transportation section.

]]>County Services and Quality of Life Rate Among Best in Nationhttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/county-services-and-quality-of-life-rate-among-best-in-nation/
Tue, 23 Oct 2018 20:40:03 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=19158According to Arlington’s recent Community Satisfaction Survey, 88 percent of residents surveyed are satisfied with the overall quality of County services, 38 percentage points above the national average. The survey assessed resident satisfaction with a wide range of County services and included many of the same questions that were part of the County’s past surveys, going back to 2004.

“While overall satisfaction in most cities and counties has decreased over the past 14 years, Arlington County has kept high satisfaction levels,” said Jason Morado of ETC Institute, which conducted the survey.

Arlington also rated significantly above the national average for overall quality of life — 86 percent compared with 75 percent.

“We’re extremely pleased with the survey results showing overall resident satisfaction with County services, especially the high ratings in public safety and emergency response, parks and recreation, and libraries,” said County Manager Mark Schwartz. “And we look forward to digging into the results and working on areas our residents told us are important to improve.”

Survey Highlights

Satisfaction ratings improved or stayed the same in 10 of the 15 overall areas rated in both 2015 and 2018. Several of these saw significant increases, including: maintenance of County streets (+13 percentage points); effectiveness of communication with the public (+7 percentage points); and customer service from County employees (+6 percent points).

While the County saw a significant increase in satisfaction with overall maintenance of streets, this area, along with traffic flow and ease of travel, remain top priorities to improve.

Residents feel safe in Arlington County, with 98 percent feeling safe in their neighborhood during the day and 91 percent having an overall feeling of safety in the County.

Satisfaction was high with fire, emergency medical and ambulance services (93 percent) as well as police services (85 percent). Residents identified the quality of police services as a top priority.

When asked about budget issues, respondents indicated they are most willing to pay an increase in taxes to maintain services for public safety, schools, transportation and public works.

Overall satisfaction with the quality of County services is the same in most parts of Arlington.

Methodology

The statistically valid survey was conducted by ETC Institute, a company that specializes in market research for governmental organizations. The seven-page survey was mailed to a random sample of households in Arlington in August 2018.

The demographics of the sample were very similar to the most recent Census estimates, which indicates the sample is a valid representation of the Arlington community. Renters accounted for more than 40 percent of the respondents.